Friends described Fred Montgomery as a thoughtful man who didn’t speak up unless he had something to say. And when he spoke, it was usually something you needed to hear.

Montgomery, a farmer and leader in the almond industry, died Thursday of natural causes at the age of 93.

A memorial will be held April 26 at 11 a.m. at Bidwell Presbyterian Church.

Montgomery was born in Chico on April 22, 1919 to Mattie Irena (Springer) and Frederick Dupratt Montgomery. He lived in Durham his entire life and grew up on his family’s almond ranch.

After serving in the military, he married Barbara Bamman and returned to Durham to manage the family ranch.

His wife of 25 years died and he later married Ann Behring Doryland in 1969. Montgomery was well-known and respected in the almond industry, including serving on the Blue Diamond Board of Directors for 28 years, 19 of those as chairman.

Howard Isom became a Blue Diamond director just as Montgomery was leaving that role in 1988.

“If everyone in this country was like Fred Montgomery, it would be a nicer place to live,” Isom said.

He is remembered for his “honesty, integrity and sincerity,” Isom said.

Montgomery was also a member of the earliest board of trustees for Butte College and “did a lot of charity work for the community,” Isom recalled.

“Fred was a wonderful role model,” said Walt Payne, who retired as CEO of Blue Diamond 11 years ago. “He listened carefully. He spoke thoughtfully. If he felt he had something to add, the best thing you could do was listen. You would no doubt be wiser as a result.”

His children continue Montgomery’s legacy in farming.

“The other day I was out at the orchard they manage,” Isom recalled. Along came a vehicle with “Fred’s son Mark and the driver was Fred the third,” and another generation of Montgomery in the back seat, Isom said. Montgomery was also involved in water issues, said retired farmer and former Butte County Supervisor Ed McLaughlin.

Several decades ago, Montgomery spearheaded research in the Butte Basin, including projects to monitor groundwater levels. This work is still respected and referenced today.

An obituary with more information will appear in the Enterprise-Record.